A row of shovels stands ready in front of construction equipment under a blue sky with clouds, preparing to break ground at the new Decatur footprint for expanded manufacturing space.

Special-Lite expanding Decatur footprint, adding nearly 70,000 square feet of manufacturing, office, showroom, and training space

Special-Lite is breaking more new ground in Southwest Michigan. We are expanding our commercial door manufacturing facility in the Village of Decatur to help drive additional growth and broaden our impact within the commercial door and interior framing industry.

The expansion will total 69,000 square feet and include 49,000 square feet of manufacturing space, enabling additional investment in automation and CNC equipment. That will bring the total manufacturing footprint to just over 194,000 square feet. Twenty-thousand square feet of new space over two levels will be used for offices, a product showroom, a dedicated installation training area, and space for product testing.

CBK Construction, a family-owned company based in Kalamazoo, has begun construction; it will conclude in late summer 2025. The planning and development consulting firm Abonmarche Consultants, Inc. will oversee the expansion’s architectural design, engineering, and land surveying. Abonmarche has administered some of the most transformative projects in the region since 1979.

“This is a significant investment in our employees and how they collaborate. It will also increase our ability to meet customer demand even more quickly and efficiently,” said Steve Benscoter, President and Chief Operating Officer.

“And while our success and hard work over the past few years is a significant driver of this exciting investment, it would not be possible without support from Market One and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Both have been instrumental in moving our company forward,” he added.

Over the past year, Special-Lite has worked to streamline and enhance its Decatur and Benton Harbor facilities to maximize space efficiency and enhance quality. That project allows the custom commercial door manufacturer to make additional investments to support the growth of its existing product portfolio and new products.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Nov. 7 (2024), where long-time employees, members of the community, other employees, and special guests were invited to help mark this important milestone.

The company invested $2.3 million in 2021 for building renovations, machinery, and equipment for its facility in Benton Harbor, creating more than 60 new jobs.

In 2024, Special-Lite released three new products: the SpecSlide Sliding Door System, an entire line of versatile and durable Double-Acting Traffic Doors, and a dual glazed version of its popular LiteSpace Interior Aluminum Framing.

A row of white construction helmets with a yellow logo is neatly arranged on a table draped in dark cloth, evoking the organized efficiency of a manufacturing space. A man speaks at a podium during a groundbreaking event in Decatur. A construction vehicle and a sign for Special-Lite's new manufacturing facility are in the background. People with cameras are taking photos. A man speaks at a podium in front of construction equipment. A sign illustrates a new Special-Lite manufacturing facility in Decatur by CBK Construction Company. A group of people in hard hats participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Special-Lite manufacturing facility, holding shovels with soil in front of a large building in Decatur. A person in a suit speaks at an outdoor event in Decatur, gesturing with a hand while holding a microphone. The backdrop of dirt mounds and trees subtly frames the gathering, as discussions revolve around the promising future of manufacturing and innovations from Special-Lite. Seven people wearing hard hats pose with shovels at a construction site in Decatur. A sign in the background reads "New Special-Lite Facility," marking the beginning of an exciting manufacturing venture. Two men stand in front of a large sign displaying a rendering of a new showroom and training space for Special-Lite by CBK Construction Company. Two people wearing hard hats, smiling, and holding shovels at a construction site in Decatur are celebrating the expansion of the new manufacturing facility. On a sunny day in Decatur, a group of people stands outside, some engaged in conversation while others stroll. In the background, trees and a building hint at the thriving manufacturing space of Special-Lite.
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